The Jolt: Seeds of power sharing in the Georgia House

By Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The U.S. Senate is still working out its power-sharing agreement with Republicans now that Democrats hold a narrow edge. But in Georgia’s GOP-controlled state house, a quieter shift is underway.

Tucked into a list of new leadership posts released late Wednesday by House Speaker David Ralston was a significant development: Democratic state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver will lead the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Overview Committee.

She’s the only Democrat to helm any of the state’s 41 House committees, but hers is no ceremonial post. Though the committee doesn’t handle legislation, the joint House-Senate panel oversees the MARTA transit system’s budget.

And Oliver, a veteran DeKalb County legislator first elected to the House in 1986, was seen as a perfect fit for the post, which was previously helmed by Republican state Rep. Deborah Silcox of Buckhead.

We’re told Ralston was adamant that talking about bipartisanship -- a theme of the opening days of the legislative session - wasn’t enough. He wanted to put action behind those words, even if it was a small step.

“They each respect each other despite their differences, and you don’t find many people sharper than Oliver,” said a Ralston deputy.

It didn’t hurt that Oliver lived in MARTA territory - a dwindling number of Republicans represent districts covered by the transit system - and she also boasted a recommendation from Michael Thurmond, DeKalb’s widely respected chief executive.

Will the MARTOC committee be a wellspring of bipartisan compromise? We’ll see. But it could be a start in a divided statehouse.